By Felix Cofie
Government is to review licensing regime and processes within the mining sector as a measure to ensure compliance in the mining space. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah said the measure is to stop illegal mining, popularly called Galamsey, which has become a national crisis.
Inaugurating an 18-member working committee to introduce radical reforms to address the critical issues of land degradation and pollution vis-a-vis mining and illegal activities in forest reserves and water bodies, Mr Armah Kofi Buah said out of the 288 forest reserves in the country, 44 have completely been destroyed due to the activities of illegal mining. He said the situation has reached a crisis level and has become a national security threat, which must be tackled head-on.
The 18-member committee, Chaired by Professor Oteng Ababio of the University of Ghana, has been given a two-week ultimatum to develop and create a strategy that will serve as the vade mecum for reforming Ghana’s mining sector.
He said his ministry and the ministry of Environment, science, technology and innovation in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, Attorney General, and Local Government are working together to ameliorate the situation.
The sector minister said, as part of the terms of reference, the committee is to review operations of mining in Forest reserves, identify best practices of mining operations, propose approaches to halting mining in water bodies, and make recommendations for the development of a comprehensive strategy to address mining challenges.
He lamented the wanton destruction of Ghana’s river and forest resources, noting that 15% (a staggering 44) out of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves have become victims of indiscriminate illegal mining activities.
Leveraging a presentation from the institutions in the Water and Resources sector, the Minister noted worryingly that the water being consumed by Ghanaians is nearly poisonous and that radical measures are needed to address it.
Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation Murtala Mohammed said forest reserves are critical components to human survival, and it is unthinkable how a few individuals with selfish interests can hold over 35 million Ghanaians to ransom.
He said the fight against illegal mining must not fail and called on all Ghanaians, especially traditional authorities, to rally with government to win the fight against it.
The Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu said traditional authorities have been doing their best to stop the activities of illegal mining in their traditional areas, but it has been difficult.
However, he assured the ministers and the working committee that with the new committee from government they will not fail.
